Mom’s handicapped playground campaign receives big donation

Published: Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 5:49 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 5:49 p.m.

One mom’s campaign to get a handicapped-accessible park has gotten a big boost, thanks to a donation by the Vandebilt Catholic High School Art Club.

Erica Lambert, the mother of two handicapped children, is trying to raise money to install an “adaptive park” that will give children who are unable to climb stairs a playground that works for them.

The playground, to be located near Barrios Park, will be Houma’s first adaptive park, including playground equipment specially designed for students with special needs. Lambert said the park will be built on a slope so wheelchair-bound children can get to the top of slides.

“We want a park that can work for everybody,” Lambert said. “This park will have monkey bars and climbing things, but it will also have equipment for kids who can’t do those things.”

Lambert has property picked out. But the price is steep — $140,000.

She has raised money on her own through a series of fundraisers. When the Art Club at her alma mater, Vandebilt High School, got in touch with her, she soon had some allies.

The club made Lambert’s park the focus of its annual Soup Bowl benefit. The club sold more than 250 hand-painted ceramic bowls and other wares in a silent auction. While the auction was happening, the club served dozens of different homemade soups and deserts.

By the time the dust settled, the club raised $10,000.

Christina McCain, art club president, said students worked for hours after school and on several weekends. McCain and her fellow art student veterans led five three-hour workshops where other students and volunteers would paint and fire the bowls.

“We had to work really hard to make sure we had that many bowls that people would actually want to buy,” McCain said. “We packed the room for a couple of those sessions.”

The club members said they donated to the park because they know what it will mean for the children it helps.

“It was great being able to do something we enjoy and we’re passionate about and have it go to a good cause,” said club curator Briana Garcia.

The club’s donation was “huge,” Lambert said.

“I’m just one person trying to raise this money. When this came in, it made me think ‘maybe this can actually happen.’ ”

Lambert has raised $25,000 of the $140,000 price tag. She’s planning a second 5K run in October and is trying to set up more fundraisers before then.

If you’d like to get involved or donate, email Lambert at ericalambert2007@yahoo.com, or join the Facebook page “Houma’s 1st Adaptive Park.”

Staff Writer Matthew Albright can be reached at 448-7635 or at matthew.albright@dailycomet.com.

Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.